Microsporidia transmission in gypsy moth populations
Abstract
Previous studies of microsporidian disease of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, have focused on issues such as host-specificity, physiology, and taxonomy. However, the questions remain: what limiting effects can microsporidia have on gypsy moth populations? What density of infected insects is required to initiate and maintain an epizootic? How well are infections transmitted per unit of time/infected insect? Laboratory experiments do not allow enough natural behavior or environmental factors to give realistic estimates of transmission. We will use small-scale field experiments that approximate natural conditions in entire trees enclosed in cages. Gypsy moth larvae will be kept together for much of the field season on small enclosed trees. By varying the density of diseased and susceptible larvae in each experimental unit, it should be possible to use simple mathematical models to predict transmission of a microsporidian pathogen in outbreak populations. Moreover, the spread and severity of the disease during larval stages can be quantified. We expect to gain new knowledge of parameters describing transmission of microsporidia in field populations, which may contribute to a better understanding of the role of microsporidia in the population dynamics of their host, the gypsy moth.
keywords Lymantria dispar Microsporidia transmission population dynamics
Publikationen
Quantifying transmission of microsporidia in the field
Autoren: Hoch, G., D'Amico, V., Solter, L.F., McManus, M.L., Zubrik, M. Jahr: 2005
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Microsporidian infections in Lymantria dispar L. (Lepidoptera, Lymantriidae) population in Serbia
Autoren: Glavendekic, M., Pilarska, D., Mihajlovic, L., Linde, A., Kolling, T., Hoch, G. Jahr: 2006
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Quantifying horizontal transmission of Nosema lymantriae, a microsporidian pathogen of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (Lep., Lymantriidae) in field cage studies.
Autoren: Hoch, G; D"Amico, V; Solter, LF; Zubrik, M; McManus, ML; Jahr: 2008
Journal articles
Two approaches fro quantifying transmission of microsporidia in semi-field conditions
Autoren: Hoch, G., D'Amico, V., Solter, L.F., Zubrik, M., McManus, M.L. Jahr: 2008
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Microsporidian pathogens of forest Lepidoptera: Ecological and physiological interactions between host and pathogen
Autoren: Hoch, G. Jahr: 2009
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Effect of midgut infection with the microsporidium Endoreticulatus schubergi on carbohydrate and lipid levels in Lymantria dispar larvae
Autoren: Hoch, G; Pilarska, DK; Dobart, N Jahr: 2009
Journal articles
Project staff
Gernot Hoch
Priv.-Doz. Dr. Gernot Hoch
gernot.hoch@boku.ac.at
Project Leader
01.09.2003 - 31.08.2008
BOKU partners
External partners
Forest Research Institute
Milan Zubrik
partner
USDA Forest Service, North Eastern Research Station, North Eastern Center for Forest Health Research, Hamden, CT
Michael L. McManus
coordinator